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orangecrush

(19,572 posts)
Sat Jan 12, 2019, 09:04 PM Jan 2019

"U.S. Consulate in Europe Running Out of Toilet Paper"

"Diplomats are filing for unemployment benefits. Unpaid employees are working overtime to prepare a massive ambassadors’ conference. A U.S. consulate in Europe is running out of toilet paper.

The partial government shutdown—now set to be the longest shutdown in U.S. history—is fraying the seams of the State Department as a skeleton crew of demoralized and unpaid workers puts in long hours to cover the gaps left by furloughed colleagues.

Like other federal workers, State Department employees and contractors are bearing the brunt of the political impasse in Washington, centered on President Donald Trump’s fierce fight with Congress to partially fund the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Outside of national security priorities and work that protects U.S. citizens abroad, much of the day-to-day work of diplomacy has largely ground to a halt in Foggy Bottom and at U.S. diplomatic outposts around the world.

Around 42 percent of State Department employees in the United States and 26 percent of U.S. employees posted abroad have been furloughed, according to data from the State Department. (According to the department, most locally employed staff overseas aren’t subject to furlough due to local labor laws preventing unpaid work.) Meanwhile, Pompeo, on a multicountry tour of the Middle East, is being shepherded around by dozens of diplomats and staff who are working without a paycheck."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/foreignpolicy.com/2019/01/11/government-shut-down-state-department-pompeo-trump-border-wall-diplomacy-chief-of-mission-ambassador-conference/amp/


Trump is to blame for this shitty situation.

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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"U.S. Consulate in Europe Running Out of Toilet Paper" (Original Post) orangecrush Jan 2019 OP
TP pamdb Jan 2019 #1
I think you're confused. It's not the TP that's scarce, but the money to buy it. nt Xipe Totec Jan 2019 #3
+1 orangecrush Jan 2019 #8
.... orangecrush Jan 2019 #5
ROFL! Xipe Totec Jan 2019 #9
well done, orangecrush saidsimplesimon Jan 2019 #28
Thanks! orangecrush Jan 2019 #33
If they don't get paid, they can't eat. So, no need for TP. JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2019 #32
No joke orangecrush Jan 2019 #34
Toilet paper everywhere but no money or spending authority to buy it with EffieBlack Jan 2019 #12
TP - Trump Pence? TheBlackAdder Jan 2019 #23
... orangecrush Jan 2019 #35
Stranded.... mbusby Jan 2019 #2
I always carry orangecrush Jan 2019 #6
Let's send them a case of that "novelty" TP with Trump's face printed on each sheet. nt Atticus Jan 2019 #4
Sounds like orangecrush Jan 2019 #7
👍🏻😂 GWC58 Jan 2019 #10
" local labor laws preventing unpaid work". Sounds like something we SHOULD have. suffragette Jan 2019 #11
Agree 100%. orangecrush Jan 2019 #14
President Trump to the rescue! True Dough Jan 2019 #13
... orangecrush Jan 2019 #15
And another one of my favorites, area51 Jan 2019 #16
He knows how to but he has a neurological problem Recursion Jan 2019 #18
... orangecrush Jan 2019 #20
How the fuck does he go to the can, walk to the car, ride in the car, and it's still on leaving it? TheBlackAdder Jan 2019 #22
My wife is going stir crazy at home Recursion Jan 2019 #17
Hope she orangecrush Jan 2019 #19
There's always the drapes! TheBlackAdder Jan 2019 #21
And the rugs! Initech Jan 2019 #24
And copier paper orangecrush Jan 2019 #25
What a shitty situation TEB Jan 2019 #26
A load of crap! orangecrush Jan 2019 #31
I know of some furloughed diplomats Lefta Dissenter Jan 2019 #27
I wonder if working for his Turbineguy Jan 2019 #29
No doubt! orangecrush Jan 2019 #30

saidsimplesimon

(7,888 posts)
28. well done, orangecrush
Sun Jan 13, 2019, 12:08 PM
Jan 2019

a buzz and woody routine. I love that cartoon, probably enjoyed it more than my grandchildren, back in the days when they were youngsters.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,350 posts)
32. If they don't get paid, they can't eat. So, no need for TP.
Sun Jan 13, 2019, 04:50 PM
Jan 2019

And, if they gotta go, there must be a gas station or coffee shop across the street from the embassy, right? Gotta get creative in Trump's shutdown.

Maybe the embassies can have garage sales. They could get good money for shredders, secure phones, Marines' rifles. Buy plenty of toilet paper.

mbusby

(823 posts)
2. Stranded....
Sat Jan 12, 2019, 09:11 PM
Jan 2019

...stranded on the toilet bowl.

What do you do when you're stranded... and you don't have a roll.

To prove you're a man (or woman)... you must use your hand...

Stranded...

(and over and over)

True Dough

(17,305 posts)
13. President Trump to the rescue!
Sat Jan 12, 2019, 09:37 PM
Jan 2019

But it's going to take a while. He's transporting a reserve supply only a few sheets at a time...


Recursion

(56,582 posts)
18. He knows how to but he has a neurological problem
Sat Jan 12, 2019, 11:31 PM
Jan 2019

Same reason he has to hold a bottle of water with both hands to drink from it.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
17. My wife is going stir crazy at home
Sat Jan 12, 2019, 11:31 PM
Jan 2019

I came home from work yesterday and she had stripped the paint in the dining room. Something's gotta give soon.

Lefta Dissenter

(6,622 posts)
27. I know of some furloughed diplomats
Sun Jan 13, 2019, 12:02 PM
Jan 2019

who, with their colleagues, are basically sneaking in to work.

They may not be getting paid, but hopefully there’s at least some toilet paper for them to use.

Turbineguy

(37,342 posts)
29. I wonder if working for his
Sun Jan 13, 2019, 12:11 PM
Jan 2019

companies is like that, but nobody can talk about it because they have to sign an NDA.

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